Unani system of medicine offers remedies for many diseases. These treatments deal only with those diseases, which are common and non-fatal. One can safely follow these remedies at home without consulting a physician. However if one is unsure or these remedies are not effective or cause other complications, which generally does not occur then it is best to consult a physician.

COMMON FEVER

(Humma-e-umoomi)Only in cases where there are complications or the exact cause of the fever is unknown, if the temperature goes too far beyond the normal range, no medication is necessary because such a fever might be nature's way of getting rid of the various poisons accumulated in the body.

Suggested Treatment

If the fever does not subside soon or goes beyond the normal limits, the first thing to do is to wash the forehead of the patient with cold water in which rose water and a little vinegar has been mixed. Cold compresses should be kept on the head if the temperature is above 103ºF. If in spite of the cold compress the fever continues to rise and reaches 104ºF, emergency procedures should be started immediately. The clothes of the patient should be removed and he or she should be wrapped in cotton sheet dipped in ice-cold water with a blanket wrapped over the sheet. The temperature will then start coming down. The sheet should be changed every fifteen minutes.Or the patient can be bathed in cold water. When the temperature comes down to 103ºF, only a cold compress on the head will do. At the first signs of temperature falling, cold compresses could also be discontinued. During fever, the patient should not eat. The only thing that a patient suffering from fever should be allowed is fruit juice. Juice of lemon in a glass of water with a pinch of salt is very useful. Drinking plenty of water is a must, as a lack of liquids may lead to dehydration which is much more difficult to cure than ordinary fever.